TRANSLATION
1884/E/86
(An article in the Mirror Magazine (Issue No. 112) Nov. 1986)
Public opinion card will appear again
by CHIU San-mau
Cooperation over the Hong Kong issue has become an important
link in the long-term relationship between Britain and China extending to the next century.
Such a strategic framework has already been formed; new problems or side
issues may crop up, but they will not affect the development of the main
trend. The "stubborn dissidents" in Hong Kong did not appear to be aware
of this long-term trend.
The British in general tend to cooperate with Peking. But
their short-sighted "advisers" in Hong Kong are
setting the stage to play the public opinion card, and to encourage and
highlight the role of the "non-Establishment" camp. This camp fights for
this today and that tomorrow. Its aim is to highlight the conflicts
between China and Hong Kong, while the British can retreat to the second
line and watch the development from afar.
Some people take the view that if party politics is not possible
after 1997, a division into the "pro-Establishment" and "non-Establish-
ment" camps could well be a good strategy to "resist communism through
democracy". It is only with a non-Establishment" camp can the role and the value of the "pro-Establishment" camp stand out, and Peking be kept under
control. "The invisible hand will be chopped off", so to speak.
The British have ruled Hong Kong for over 140 years. The
British monarch is, of course, supreme. But the British representatives
in Hong Kong are now being challenged by the "essence of the British tradition".
It was proposed that the British parliamentary democracy should continue after 1997
as an extension of the British tradition. This could well be a brilliant
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.